The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-28

kindly. ''Thcy all make botches Of it. "
"Arcn't you going to fish, Arbuth-
not?" called out an exquisite youth, who
wore primrose and an cyc-glass. '.It's
no end of a lark, pom honor! It's such
fun to see those stupid little tin things
wrigglc"'
"Is it, rcally?" said Arbuthnot, with
impcrturbable gravity, while the speaker
began to dangIe his absurd little line in
the water
''Do you know what that makes me
think OFF, he continued, in a low tone,
which only Syl il heard 1T reminds
me of a definition which 1 once heard
given for fishing-rod-'a stick with
a worm at one end and a fool at the
other.'"
SybiI broke out into a merry laugh,
which made Evelyn turn around to see
what the fun was.
"Won't you try now?" said Mr. Ar
buthnot. "There are not very many
people at the table"
YES" said Evelyn, sweetIy; '1et us
try now, by all means. Do you know,
Mr.. Arbuthnot, there is to be a german
after the fishing, and we ladies have to
fish our partners out of yonder bowl2"
GLOW momentous!" Arbuthnot ex-
claimed. II hope heaven may be kind
to me-"
Evelyn smiled at him, and Sybil, hav-
ing a sense of being in the way moved
toward the table.
Come, ladiesn' cried the youth with
the eyeglass. "There are as good fish in
the sea as ever yet were caught"
'Allow mew said Dick Travcrs, a
brother of the hostess, to whom Sybil
had been presented, and she found her
self in possession of one of the gilded
willow rods, which yee gaily adorned
with bows of ribbon.
She cast in her line, and almost i'm
mediately the others were cast along
side.
Il am fishing for you, Miss Weir,"
said Dick, boldly. Il want a good
partner, and you look as though you
danced divinely."
II am very fond of it." Sybil said,
modestly; but 1 don't know much
about the german. think 1 should be
almost afraid to try"
Evelyn frowncd and bit her lips.
What a fool the girl was
"Why, Sybiln' she said, pcttishly.
You are fishing on my side. want
that little fat fish. I'm sure he's got
something nice in him"
''You are welcome to him, I'm sure, .
said Sybil, abandoning her game very
pleasantly. I'D rather have that slim
little fellow. Perhaps he hasn't any
thing in him, and then l shall be al
lowed to look on"
''Ahaw cried Dick, whose skilled
hand had hooked up the first fish.
''What have we got here? No. II.
ANY, what is No. 17-gentIeman's
price
''You dance with Miss Irwln," said
Mrs. Bayard, putting a box into hel
brothers hand.
Dick groaned.
''Never mind, " said Arbuthnot, laugh
ing. ''We are only going to have six
figures. Let us see what you have got, .
Dick produced very pretty leather
pocket-book, which they were all ad-
miring, when Miss EveIyn's cry of tri-
umph riveted attention on herself.
'Tye got him. she exclaimed, lifting
the fat fish out of the water
But great was her chagrin when she
found that it contaiaed no prize at all,
and the name of somebody whom she
did not like.
'I'm afraid shall not catch anybody, .
said Sybil, who found it quite difficult.
"You don't 90 at it right, " said Dick.
Drop your hook down deep, and then
bring it up sIowly-this way. Try the
little fellow over there. That's right.
Gently now. There-aha. What did
tell you? That was we'll done, wasn't it,
Ainsley?
"Excelent," said AinsIey ''Oper
him-do. am consumed with curl
osity"
sibyl obcyed, laughinglE expecting
nothing.
by Jovey' Dick cried, 'she'.
hooked the gold ring"
Sure enough, inside of the slim little
fish lay the shining band which every ont
coveted.
1T is like the Arabian Nights" she
said in astonishment. ''How pretty i
is.' And see this French motto inside
Mariau femme, Tame portrait.'" )"
THAT means you will be married in a
year" said Arbuthnot, Shilling into her
shy, little, flushed face:
81 don't think that's likely" Shy
replied. ''But I never dreamed of get
ting the ring. 1 wonder how 1 ever
happened to-"
There is no great mystery, as car
see," said Evelyn, with a disagreeablt
laugh. "a brother OF Mrs. BayardI
ought to be able to prompt one effect
lively"